Moving body position detecting device

Abstract

A moving body position detecting device is provided with at least three contacts and at least three conductors which are in contact respectively with the three contacts, connected in series to each other and disposed in parallel to each other, for detecting the position of a moving body according to the relative positional relationship between the three contacts and the three conductors.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A moving body position detecting device for detecting a position of a moving body, comprising: a) three contacts;   b) a conductive member defining three conductive paths being respectively in contact with said three contacts, for detecting the position of said moving body according to relative positional relationships of said three conductive paths with respect to said three contacts, said three conductive paths being connected electrically in series with one another and disposed spatially in parallel with one another.   
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising circuit means connected to said three contacts for indicating detected positions. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said three contacts are disposed with an immovable body. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said three conductive paths are disposed with said moving body. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 3, further comprising: a constant voltage source connected between a first contact and a second contact included in said three contacts; and   wherein said circuit means includes a voltage detector connected between a third contact and said first contact included in said three contacts.   
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 3, further comprising: a constant voltage source connected between a first contact and a second contact which are located on two sides among said three contacts; and   wherein said circuit means includes a voltage detector connected between said first contact and a third contact which is located in the middle of said three contacts.   
     
     
       7. A device according to claim 1, wherein conductive paths located on two sides among said three conductive paths are arranged to have specific resistances lower than a specific resistance of a conductive path located in the middle of said three conductive paths. 
     
     
       8. A device according to claim 1, wherein conductive paths located on two sides among said three conductive paths are arranged to be wider than a conductive path located in the middle of said three conductive paths. 
     
     
       9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said three conductive paths are formed with a flexible printed circuit board. 
     
     
       10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said moving body includes a constituent element of an optical apparatus. 
     
     
       11. A device according to claim 1, wherein said moving body includes an optical system of a camera. 
     
     
       12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said moving body includes a zoom lens of a camera. 
     
     
       13. A device according to claim 1, wherein said moving body is rotatable, and wherein said three conductive paths are arranged to extend in a rotating direction of said moving body. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus having a moving body, comprising: a) three contacts; and   b) a conductive member defining three conductive paths being respectively in contact with said three contacts, for detecting a position of said moving body according to relative positional relationships of said three conductive paths with respect to said three contacts, said three conductive paths being connected electrically in series with one another and disposed spatially in parallel with one another.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said apparatus includes an optical apparatus. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising circuit means connected to said three contacts for indicating detected positions. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said three contacts are disposed with an immovable body. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said three conductive paths are disposed with said moving body. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: a constant voltage source connected between a first contact and a second contact included in said three contacts; and   wherein said circuit means includes a voltage detector connected between a third contact and said first contact included in said three contacts.   
     
     
       20. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: a constant voltage source connected between a first contact and a second contact which are located on two sides among said three contacts; and   wherein said circuit means includes a voltage detector connected between said first contact and a third contact which is located in the middle of said three contacts.   
     
     
       21. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein conductive paths located on two sides among said three conductive paths are arranged to have specific resistances lower than a specific resistance of a conductive path located in the middle of said three conductive paths. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein conductive paths located on two sides among said three conductive paths are arranged to be wider than a conductive path located in the middle of said three conductive paths. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said three conductive paths are formed with a flexible printed circuit board. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said moving body includes a constituent element of an optical apparatus. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said moving body includes an optical system of a camera. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said moving body includes a zoom lens of a camera. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said moving body is rotatable, and wherein said three conductive paths are arranged to extend in a rotating direction of said moving body. 
     
     
       28. A moving body position detecting device for detecting a position of a moving body, comprising: a) a substrate and an electrically conductive member defining a plurality of conductive paths electrically continuous with one another and disposed spatially in parallel with one another on said substrate; and   b) electrical contacts in number equal to the number of conductive paths in said plurality, said contacts being electrically separate from one another, each of said contacts engaging a single one of said conductive paths,   different relative positional relationships existing as between said electrical contacts and said conductive paths during movement of said moving body.   
     
     
       29. A device according to claim 28, further including a source of voltage connected to selective of said contacts. 
     
     
       30. A device according to claim 29, further including a voltage indicator connected to selective of said contacts. 
     
     
       31. A device according to claim 29, wherein said selective contacts are contacts engaging non-adjacent ones of said conductive paths. 
     
     
       32. A device according to claim 30, wherein said selective contacts are contacts engaging adjacent ones of said conductive paths. 
     
     
       33. A device according to claim 28, further including a source of voltage connected to contacts which are in engagement with non-adjacent ones of said conductive paths and a voltage indicator connected to contacts which are in engagement with adjacent ones of said conductive paths. 
     
     
       34. A moving body position detecting device for detecting a position of a moving body in a given range of movement of said moving body, comprising: a) a plurality of contacts; and   b) a conductive member defining a plurality of conductive paths in number corresponding with the number of the contact plurality, said conductive paths being electrically series-connected with one another, each of said contacts being in electrical engagement with a distinct one of said conductive paths throughout movement of said moving body in said given range.     
     
     
       35. An apparatus having: (a) a moving body; and   (b) a detecting device for detecting a position of a moving body in a given range of movement of said moving body, said detecting device comprising a plurality of contacts and a conductive member defining a plurality of conductive paths in number corresponding with the number of the contact plurality, said conductive paths being electrically series-connected with one another, each of said contacts being in electrical engagement with a distinct one of said conductive paths throughout movement of said moving body in said given range.